Roll splitter

Abstract

A roll splitter for splitting apart rolls of paper that have been rewound onto separate cores positioned adjacent to each other on a common shaft such that adjacent edges of the rolls overlap. The roll splitter includes a vertically-extending, fixed post, a fixed base, a frame pivotably attached to the base, a pair of contact plates pivotably attached to the frame and being spaced apart from the post a distance sufficient to allow a roll of paper to be inserted therebetween and positioned on either side of the post, and a double-acting cylinder motor pivotably attached to the post and frame for pivoting the frame toward and away from the post. Two rolls having adjacent, overlapping edges are positioned between the post and the plates such that the overlapping edges are in registry with the post and are split apart as the cylinder motor urges the contact plates against the rolls, thereby urging the rolls against the post at the overlapping edges.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A roll splitter for splitting apart two rolls of paper that have been rewound such that adjacent edges thereof overlap, thereby forming a connection therebetween, comprising: means defining a fixed surface;   support means including first and second movable surfaces, said movable surfaces being spaced from said fixed surface sufficiently to allow a roll of paper to be inserted therebetween and positioned on opposite sides of said fixed surface; and   means for displacing said movable surfaces toward and away from said fixed surface in paths such that said movable surfaces pass to either side of said fixed surface, whereby two rolls having adjacent, overlapping edges positioned between said fixed and movable surfaces such that said overlapping edges are in registry with said fixed surface are split apart as said displacing means urges said movable surfaces against said rolls, thereby urging said rolls against said fixed surface.   
     
     
       2. The roll splitter of claim 1 wherein said movable surfaces are pivotably connected to said support means. 
     
     
       3. The roll splitter of claim 1 wherein said support means includes a support base and a frame pivotably attached to said base for supporting said movable surfaces. 
     
     
       4. The roll splitter of claim 3 wherein said displacing means includes a double-acting cylinder motor extending between said frame and said fixed surface. 
     
     
       5. The roll splitter of claim 1 wherein said fixed surface includes a post having a width narrower than a total length of a pair of rolls to be split. 
     
     
       6. A roll splitter for splitting apart two rolls of paper that have been rewound such that adjacent edges thereof overlap, thereby forming a connection therebetween comprising: a substantially vertically-extending, fixed post;   a fixed base;   a frame pivotably attached to said base to pivot toward and away from said post;   first and second contact plates pivotably attached to said frame to pivot about substantially vertical axes, said plates being spaced from said post a distance sufficient to allow a roll of paper to be inserted therebetween, and being positioned on either side of said post; and   double-acting cylinder motor means pivotably attached to said post and said frame for pivoting said frame toward and away from said post such that said contact plates travel in paths to pass to either side of said post, whereby two rolls having adjacent overlapping edges positioned between said post and said plates such that said overlapping edges are in registry with said post are split apart as said cylinder motor means urges said contact plates against said rolls, thereby urging said rolls against said post.